The History Department announces up to three $500 prizes for a short (1-3 minute) video made by an undergraduate individual or team on the subject, “Why take History?”
Videos may answer this question in a variety of ways. For instance, you might take up current events, video gaming, the uses of history for life, or something entirely different. Format is open: videos may range from informal interviews shot on a cell phone to highly-polished documentaries shot with a top-quality camera. The key is to create a compelling, persuasive video that can convince undecided students to take History classes. Feel free to contact the Design Lab for technical help; direct other questions to solson25@wisc.edu. Finalist and winning videos will be used on the department website, in social media, in classes, and elsewhere to help promote our classes.
For full consideration, videos should:
- Be submitted to solson25@wisc.edu by February 24, 2020.
- Be 1-3 minutes in length.
- Acknowledge all sources.
- Avoid the use of copyrighted material or provide written permission from the owner of the copyright for the department’s unlimited use of the copyrighted material.
- Include in the email submitting the video:
- Subject line: Why take History video contest
- The name, role, class year, and major(s) of each creator of the video. At least one creator of the video must be a declared history major or be taking or have taken a history class at UW-Madison (designate which class or classes, which semester).
- The social media handle(s) of the creator(s), if desired. This would allow us to link to those handles when we post the video.
- A full transcript of the video in an attached MS Word file. (The purpose of this is to make this video fully accessible to all.)
- The video itself (as an attachment) or a link to the video. Format is open, but AVI, MOV, or MP4 is preferred.
- Multiple submissions are allowed.
- Current undergraduates, as well as students who have graduated within the last 6 months before the deadline, are eligible. (Of course, alumni or non-students are welcome to appear in the video.)
By submitting a video for this competition, the creators attest that their video is the product of their own work, and give the UW-Madison History Department unrestricted permission to publicize and distribute the video on social media and other platforms. By submitting a video, creators also give the History Department permission to add brief material at the beginning or the end of the video to promote the Department itself.
The winning video should:
- Capture and hold the attention of a diverse range of UW-Madison undergraduates
- Present a persuasive argument for the value of History classes or a History degree
- Acknowledge sources appropriately and follow all rules of copyright
Download printable version of this notice (pdf)